Today in History

Saturday, Aug. 24, 2002

Today is Saturday, Aug. 24, the 236th day of 2002. There are 129 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Aug. 24, 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly non-stop across the United States, traveling from Los Angeles to Newark, N.J., in just over 19 hours.

On this date:

In A.D. 79, long-dormant Mount Vesuvius erupted, burying the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in volcanic ash. An estimated 20,000 people died.

In A.D. 410, Rome was overrun by the Visigoths, an event that symbolized the fall of the Western Roman Empire.

In 1814, British forces invaded Washington, D.C., setting fire to the Capitol and the White House.

In 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty went into effect.

In 1954, the Communist Control Act took effect, practically outlawing the Communist Party in the United States.

In 1968, France became the world's fifth thermonuclear power as it exploded a hydrogen bomb in the South Pacific.

In 1981, Mark David Chapman was sentenced in New York to 20 years to life in prison for killing rock star John Lennon.

In 1982, Archbishop Joseph L. Bernardin was installed as head of Chicago's Roman Catholic archdiocese.

Ten years ago: Hurricane Andrew smashed into Florida, causing record damage; 55 deaths in Florida, Louisiana and the Bahamas were blamed on the storm. China and South Korea established diplomatic ties.